Compulsory education starts in the year when a child has his/her seventh birthday, unless the child needs special needs education. The scope of the basic education syllabus is nine years, and nearly all children subject to compulsory education complete this by attending comprehensive school.

Basic education is free of charge for pupils. Textbooks and other materials, tools etc. are free of charge and pupils are offered a free daily meal. In addition, school health care and other welfare services are free to the pupils. Pupils in basic education living some distance from school (more than 5 km) or the journey is considered dangerous are entitled to free transport. If the daily travel time exceeds three hours, the pupil is entitled to free board and lodging in a dormitory.

The objective of basic education is to support pupils’ growth towards humanity and ethically responsible membership of society and to provide them with the knowledge and skills needed in life. The education should promote learning and equality in society as well as acquiring knowledge and skills that the students need in studying and developing themselves later in life. Education also aims at guaranteeing sufficient equality in education throughout the country.

Post-basic education

After completing basic education, a young person can continue studying or enter working life. It is not considered advisable to move into working life immediately, but one of the objectives of education policy is to provide the whole of each age group with upper secondary education free of charge. If education is continued, a choice is usually made between general upper secondary school and vocational education and training.

Additional voluntary education (10th grade)

In case basic education completers feel that their skills are not quite up to the standard required by further education, they can supplement their knowledge and improve on the school-leaving certificate marks by enrolling in additional voluntary education in the so-called 10th grade.

General Issues

According to theBasic Education Act (628/1998), all children permanently residing in Finland are subject to compulsory education. Compulsory education starts in the year when a child becomes seven years of age and ends when the syllabus of basic education has been completed or 10 years after the beginning of compulsory education. The parents or guardians of children of compulsory school age are required to ensure that children comply with this obligation. The local authorities are obligated to organise basic education free of charge for school-aged children living within their respective areas.

Age is the only admission requirement, because every child permanently resident in Finland is subject to compulsory education. A child may be granted the right to begin basic education one year earlier than stipulated, provided that psychological and medical examinations show that the child has the aptitudes for coping at school. Correspondingly, a child may also be granted permission to begin basic education one year later than stipulated, on the basis of similar examinations.

There is no obligation to attend school in Finland, but compulsory education may also be completed by studying at home, for example. In such cases, the municipality of residence is obligated to supervise a child’s progress in his/her studies. The parent or other guardian of a child subject to compulsory education must ensure completion of compulsory education. The number of those studying at home is minimal.

Compulsory education is monitored by the local authorities by keeping a list of all school-aged children. The parent or other guardian is informed when a child is to be registered at a school. The principal of the school lists all registrations. In the event that a child of compulsory school age has not registered, the parent or guardian is notified. If the child is still not registered or his/her instruction organised in some other way (for example, at home), the parent or guardian may be fined for neglecting his/her supervisory duty.

Those no longer subject to compulsory education may also receive basic education from general upper secondary schools for adults, folk high schools, and adult education centres. Some folk high schools and most adult education centres are private institutions.